Workshop Title: A Bubbl.us not Bubble: Using Organizational Tools

Day: 6

Subject of the Day's Workshop:

To develop knowledge and application of an organizational tool, Bubbl.us, promote collaboration, writing, and critical thinking within the middle school English Language Arts classroom.

Prerequisite Knowledge:

1. Understanding and application of the organizational tools and process of writing.

Content:

The use of organizational tools are important within the middle school English Language Arts classroom. They provide a way for students to organize thoughts for research and to create a map to aid in the development of writing, note-taking, and studying. By examining and working with Bubbl.us in the workshop, participants will be better equipped to bring collaboration to the creation of organizational charts within and outside of the classroom. Within this workshop, participants will become familiar with the various functions and applications of Bubbl.us in the middle school English Language arts classroom through the use of various interactive activities and evaluation.

Objectives of the Lesson:

By the end of Day 6, participants will be able to:

1. Possess a larger understanding of the various operations within Bubbl.us.
2. Recognize, understand, and apply various ways that Bubbl.us can be utilized in the middle school English Language Arts classroom.
3. Transform teaching practices through the use of Bubbl.us focusing on examination of how organizational charts promote deeper writing development, collaboration, and critical thinking within the middle school English Language Arts classroom.
4. Create and develop activities that utilize Bubbl.us within the middle school English Language Arts classroom and at home.
5. Engage in self evaluation and workshop evaluation.

Lesson Format:

1. Brief question and answer session to address lingering questions from participants regarding information from Day 5.
2. Facilitator will lead a quick review of various functions within Bubbl.us. Participants will interact with demonstration by creating a Bubbl that will be utilized for the workshop.
3. Collaborative Activity: Working in groups, participants will create a Bubbl.us chart that examines the following topic: Wikipedia: Is it a useful tool for students when conducting research? Once completed, groups will utilize Bubbl.us "Sharing" function to examine the other groups' sheets. Groups will collaboratively add onto the Bubbl.us charts. Facilitator will place completed activities on LCD to engage in discussion of "Sharing" function and how Bubbl.us can utilized within collaborative groups.
4. Collaborative Activity: Groups will create another Bubbl.us chart that focuses on the following topic: How would Bubbl.us be used in the middle school English Language Arts classroom? Groups will share charts with another group to collaborate and develop one bubbl.us chart from all groups within the workshop. One person from each group will embed that presentation into the training wiki so that the facilitator can showcase work and lead discussion of various ways that Bubbl.us can be incorporated into the classroom.
5. Collaborative Activity: Picking different story starters (from a hat: setting, characters, conflict, etc.) groups will develop the plot of a story by mapping out elements of plot utilizing Bubbl.us. Groups will embed finished products into their blog or wiki.
6. Planning time: Participants will be able to develop and create two Bubbl.us activities based upon current classroom topics that will be implemented in the classroom for student use. In addition, the activities will incorporate the use of another collaborative technology that has been taught in the workshop for students to build off of the Bubbl.us activity Facilitator will be able to meet individually with participants during this time to aid in development or answer questions.
7. Self and Workshop Day Evaluation.

Sample of Bubbl.us for Wikipedia Collaborative Activity

Sample Bubbl.us for Plot Collaborative Activity

Additional Materials and How They will be Used:

Web 2.0 Blog about Bubbl.us:
Will be utilized to examine another teacher's use and perspective Bubbl.us and written expression in the classroom.

T & L with Technology Website:
Will be utilized to examine different samples of Bubbl.us in English Language Arts and other content areas. In addition, the site also summarizes functions within Bubb.us.

Evaluation:

Please click here to access and complete the self and daily workshop evaluation (Currently not available. Your trainer will activate it during the workshop session).